Line Line, n. [OE. line, AS. l[=i]ne cable, hawser, prob. from
L. linea a linen thread, string, line, fr. linum flax,
thread, linen, cable; but the English word was influenced by
F. ligne line, from the same L. word linea. See {Linen}.]
1. A linen thread or string; a slender, strong cord; also, a
cord of any thickness; a rope; a hawser; as, a fishing
line; a line for snaring birds; a clothesline; a towline.
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Who so layeth lines for to latch fowls. --Piers
Plowman.
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2. A more or less threadlike mark of pen, pencil, or graver;
any long mark; as, a chalk line.
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3. The course followed by anything in motion; hence, a road
or route; as, the arrow descended in a curved line; the
place is remote from lines of travel.
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{Mason and Dixon's line}, {Mason-Dixon line}, the boundary
line between Pennsylvania and Maryland, as run before the
Revolution (1764-1767) by two English astronomers named
Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. In an extended sense,
the line between the free and the slave States; as, below
the Mason-Dixon line, i.e. in the South.

battleship — 1794, shortened from line of battle ship (1705), one large enough to take part in a main attack (formerly one of 74 plus guns); from BATTLE (Cf. battle) + SHIP (Cf. ship) (n.). Later in U.S. Navy in reference to a class of ships that carried guns … Etymology dictionary

battleship — at tle*ship (Nav.) [shortened from line of battle ship, i.e. the most heavily armored ship suited to be in the front line of a naval battle.] An armor plated warship built of steel and heavily armed, generally having over ten thousand tons… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

battleship — ☆ battleship [bat′ lship΄ ] n. any of a class of large warships with the biggest guns and very heavy armor … English World dictionary

Battleship — For other uses, see Battleship (disambiguation). The firepower of a battleship demonstrated by USS Iowa (ca. 1984) A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were large … Wikipedia

battleship — /bat l ship /, n. 1. any of a class of warships that are the most heavily armored and are equipped with the most powerful armament. 2. See ship of the line. [1785 95, Amer.; BATTLE1 + SHIP] * * * Capital ship of the world s navies from с 1860,… … Universalium